Does the hummus go bad? - The Ultimate Guide

Humus is or should be a staple in every home. It is delicious, very nutritious and very versatile. You can eat a lot without feeling guilty or completely ruining your dietary goals, and it’s filling and satiating. This dip or spread can be enjoyed both morning and evening, winter or summer, and any time in between.

If hummus is a staple in your house, you may find yourself buying in bulk to save money and trips to the grocery store.

Does the hummus go bad?

Yes, unfortunately, it does; however, if you store it properly, it will last long enough for you to eat it all before it loses its freshness. 

In this article, we’ll talk about how long you can expect hummus to stay fresh and safe to eat, whether it’s store-bought or homemade, opened or sealed.

We’ll also offer you suggestions to extend its life as long as possible and share some important tips to help you decide if your hummus is still safe to eat, or if it’s gone bad.

Does hummus expire if it’s not opened?

Yes, even if your hummus has not been opened, over time it will expire and grow mold.

Commercially produced hummus is made with preservatives and is often pasteurized as well. It can even be packaged and sealed in a sterile environment, further protecting the spread of bacterial contamination.

However, the amount of moisture in hummus means that over time, bacteria will form and ruin your hummus.

Is it necessary to refrigerate hummus?

It’s rare to find, but there are very few companies that make shelf-stable hummus, which means that if it’s left unopened, it doesn’t need to be refrigerated.

If you find hummus in a grocery store that isn’t in the refrigerated section, and it hasn’t simply been misplaced by an inconsiderate shopper, that’s a good indication that it doesn’t need to be refrigerated, although it will still have an expiration date.

In almost all cases, and any time you find hummus in the refrigerated section of your grocery store, it does need to be refrigerated at all times, even before opening.

Homemade hummus should also always be stored in the fridge, tightly closed in an airtight container.

How long can hummus be out?

If you are storing leftover hummus, it should be left out at room temperature for as short a time as possible. If you are going to eat it, you can enjoy it in an hour social nap without worrying about the quality.

If you are outdoors or in a very hot environment, try to set the window of time to eat it as low as possible without feeling like you have to rush it.

Bacteria can contaminate humus as long as it is open and at room temperature. If you eat it right away, the bacteria will not survive your digestive process and it will be completely safe to eat.

However, if your hummus is contaminated and then goes back in the fridge, it gives bacteria time to grow and turn into mold, which is unsightly and potentially unsafe.

If you don’t think you’ll eat all of the hummus at once, take some out of the serving bowl and immediately put the rest back in the fridge. Always use a clean utensil to serve hummus to avoid cross contamination.

How long does hummus last?

Hummus can last anywhere from 4 days to 1 week if stored properly. There can be considerable variation in shelf life, depending on how the hummus was made.

Commercially produced hummus may have preservatives designed to prolong the life of the dip, but that’s not necessarily guaranteed.

It’s always best to check the best before or expiration date on the packaging and let that guide your decision process about whether the hummus can still be fresh.

How long does hummus last in the fridge?

Hummus should always be kept in the refrigerator, whether it has been opened or not. As already mentioned, the duration can vary depending on whether it has been produced commercially or at home, and the ingredients or additives that have been used.

Most hummus will last in your fridge for a minimum of 4 days.

How long does open hummus last?

Store-bought hummus should be eaten within a week of opening. The longer it’s open, the more opportunities you have to be exposed to contamination, either from going in and out of the fridge, or from the utensils used to serve it.

Humus tends to become watery or dry after opening, and sometimes both at the same time. The liquid begins to separate from the fat content, pooling at the bottom of the container and leaving the paste a bit dry compared to the day it was first opened.

You can mix the hummus to get it back to the perfect consistency, but if you do, it’s better to eat all the hummus you’ve mixed, rather than putting it back in the fridge.

How long does unopened hummus keep?

Unopened purchased hummus should last at least a week in the fridge. Most brands stay fresh much longer, 10 days minimum. We have enjoyed hummus without problems after finding it in the fridge a month after buying it.

If there are no signs of spoilage and the container has never been opened, hummus has been known to last beyond its best before date for quite some time. However, by pushing the limits, you are taking responsibility for your own health and your taste buds.

How long does homemade hummus last?

Homemade hummus does not usually have any added preservatives, and no matter how clean your kitchen is, it is not usually considered a completely sterile environment. For these reasons, homemade hummus doesn’t last as long as store-bought.

You should always try to consume your homemade hummus within a maximum period of 4 to 5 days , and always keep it tightly closed and stored in the refrigerator, unless you have separated a portion for immediate enjoyment.

Can hummus be frozen?

You can freeze hummus, and very effectively. If you buy in bulk, you can put a container of hummus almost straight into the freezer, although there are a few steps you need to take first.

Write the date of purchase on the container . That way, when you thaw it, you can judge how long it will stay fresh in your fridge by comparing the freeze date to the best before date stamped on the container.

You will also want to break the seal on the hummus, just a small amount. Most refrigerated hummus isn’t pressure-sealed, but hummus expands when frozen, so breaking the seal gives it room to rise without the lid rupturing from the pressure.

Expired hummus: what you should know

The date stamped on a store-bought container of hummus is actually a best before date, or recommended use-by date, not an official use-by date.

This means that the manufacturer trusts that their product will be fresh until a certain date, as stated on the packaging, but not necessarily beyond that date.

Humus isn’t going to deteriorate or spoil instantly the next day, but the quality becomes more suspect the longer you keep it beyond its recommended shelf life.

You can often eat hummus even after it’s expired, but you’ll want to check for signs of spoilage before eating it.

How to know if hummus is bad

The most obvious indication that hummus has gone bad is visual. When humus goes bad, it can grow mold or start to ferment. Sometimes you can do both.

If your hummus is oily, watery or dry, it is not necessarily a sign that it has gone bad, it may just need a good stirring to recombine the water and fats in the paste.

The oil in hummus may go rancid, but that usually takes longer than mold growth, so rancid oil is unlikely to be the reason you decide to throw out the container.

If you open the container and notice that it has a sour or unusual odor, especially if you notice some wateriness, it’s best to dispose of it and start with a new container. That sour smell is a sign that your hummus is starting to ferment.

And of course, if you can see any color changes, stickiness, or fuzzy growths, you may have mold.

mold in the hummus

Mold on hummus is unappetizing and should be discarded if there are signs of mold growth. Some people just pick out a small affected area and eat the rest, but you’re taking a chance.

Hummus is not like hard cheese. Mold can burrow deeper into humus than you realize once it begins to form.

If your hummus is old enough to be fuzzy or black, chances are it’s fermenting as well. Even if you don’t eat the mold directly, your hummus is likely going to be more sour and spicy than it should be, and not in a good way.

Eating mold that has spoiled over time in your fridge isn’t likely to be harmful to your health, but it won’t taste good and it’s not good for you, so avoid it if you can.

humus food poisoning

Hummus poisoning is possible, but this usually occurs from cross-contamination from other foods and not from natural spoilage.

There have been humus recalls in both Europe and North America after discovering that a batch was contaminated at the production plant with listeria or salmonella. However, this is very rare, so it shouldn’t cause a panic.

To keep hummus safe at home, make sure to store it in an airtight container in the fridge, and never leave it next to raw meat.

Hummus that has gone bad simply because it’s old may upset your stomach, but it’s not likely to make you seriously ill.

Hummus duration table

Nevera Congelador

Frequently asked questions about hummus

Does hummus have protein?

Hummus is packed with healthy plant-based protein from chickpeas and tahini.

The average commercially produced hummus will have about 2.4 grams of protein in 2 tablespoons.

The average serving is 1 cup of hummus, which has 19.5 grams of protein.

That’s less than the same serving of peanut butter, which has an impressive 8 grams of protein per 2 tablespoons, but it’s also much higher in fat, and most people eat much less per serving.

Hummus has a respectable amount of protein and is a great way to add a variety of plant-based nutrition to a meal, rather than focusing on a single source to meet your protein needs.

Is hummus vegan?

Yes, traditional hummus is vegan. The main ingredients are all plant-based, including chickpeas, tahini, garlic, and olive oil.

However, when shopping at most grocery stores, you’ll quickly realize that hummus has become so much more than a traditional dip or spread.

You can find hummus of multiple flavors, including hummus for dessert . The vast majority will all be vegan, simply with added ingredients like caramelized onions, olive tapenade, or roasted red peppers.

As its popularity increases, you may find a recipe that includes an added ingredient that is not suitable for vegans.

For example, some of the sweet hummus recipes may include dairy or honey ingredients, so if you’re very picky about your diet, check the ingredients list.

Does hummus have dairy?

Dairy is not an ingredient in traditional hummus, no. However, there may be some commercial products that struggle to differentiate themselves from classic flavors, so if you are sensitive to dairy or have an aversion to dairy for whatever reason, always read the labels.

If you make your own hummus at home, there’s no need or reason to include dairy. If they are used in hummus, it is probably in a powdered form to add creaminess without increasing the liquid content of the product.

If you want that creaminess, using a powdered coconut milk in your homemade hummus would be more effective than true dairy, although it will also add a subtle flavor.

Is hummus keto?

No, hummus is not generally considered useful on a keto diet. Chickpeas and other legumes are high in carbohydrates and low in fat, which is the opposite of ideal for a keto user. If you practice a hybrid keto style or include cheat days, it can be a very healthy, albeit low-fat, snack.

In a 1-cup serving of the average commercially produced humus, you’ll find

• 408 calories
• 34 carbs, 15 of which are from fiber, so there are only 20 net carbs
• 19.5 grams of protein
• 23.5 grams of fat

Is hummus low in FODMAP?

If you’re on a strict low-FODMAP diet and hummus is a big part of your life, it’s best to make it yourself and be mindful of your portion sizes.

Chickpeas can be high FODMAP foods, but by choosing canned chickpeas that have been thoroughly rinsed, you can remove most of the galactans that hinder digestion. With commercially produced hummus, you have no control over how the chickpeas are prepared.

Even if you make your own hummus, if you’re on a low FODMAP diet, limit your serving size to about ¼ cup.